Friars’ Bancroft has earned minutes, and Cooley’s trust

Monday

Jan 20, 2014 at 8:51 PM

PROVIDENCE — As they stood next to one another during a free throw Saturday night, Doug McDermott and Ted Bancroft exchanged a little idle chatter.McDermott, everybody’s All-American from Creighton University,...

Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer kevinmcnamara33

PROVIDENCE — As they stood next to one another during a free throw Saturday night, Doug McDermott and Ted Bancroft exchanged a little idle chatter.

“At one point during a free throw he asked me why the fans get so excited whenever I do anything,” said the Providence College senior. “I said, ‘I’m the white walk-on on the team.’ He says, ‘You’re a walk-on?’”

With that, Bancroft chuckled and went on helping the Friars to a 81-68 win over McDermott’s Bluejays. Thrust into the game thanks to foul trouble with multiple starters, the 6-5 Bancroft stepped up big time for PC. He made his only shot, draining a baseline jumper in the first half, and more importantly checked McDermott on defense for most of his 19 minutes of action.

Coach Ed Cooley says he’s always ready to call Bancroft’s name. Now on scholarship, Bancroft will be ready for more minutes when Butler comes to The Dunk on Tuesday. The coach says that no player on his roster changes his team’s energy level like the kid who grew up in Rumford and once starred at Bishop Stang High in North Dartmouth, Mass.

“Our crowd loves Ted, and even on the road, he changes the tempo of the game and the energy of our team,” Cooley said. “He’s tough and he’s competitive and he’s practiced at a high level with us for three years. I trust him.”

Speaking Monday at the Cox Sports basketball media brunch, Bancroft said he’ll remember his night tangling with McDermott for a long time. Once Josh Fortune and Tyler Harris went to the bench with two fouls each, Bancroft entered the game and played the final five minutes of the first half. His highlight came when he knocked in a 12-footer with 38 seconds left, giving the Friars a 37-30 halftime lead.

“Coach Cooley does a good job giving me confidence to shoot it and I really did need to hear that,” Bancroft said. “This year I’m more comfortable and confident out there and when the shot clock got under 10, I went to a move we practice every day in guard-forward shooting and just knocked it down.”

When Harris picked up his third and fourth fouls in the opening 3:40 of the second half, Bancroft was back on the floor. This time his role was using his 210 pounds to body up McDermott as best he could. He says he was ready for the challenge.

“In all honesty I thought it was a good matchup for me, even if I know no one in the country would agree with me,” he said. “He’s just a very smart basketball player. I’m not the quickest guy in the world but I can stick with some guys. He knows the game better than anyone in the country and that’s why he’s so effective.”

McDermott said he was slowed a bit by an upset stomach yet still finished with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Two of his points came when he spun past Bancroft and swooped to the hoop for a loud dunk.

“It was a great feeling the first time he got the ball when he traveled so that gave me a little confidence,” Bancroft said, “but then he dunked on me. I just hope when he wins national player of the year that that dunk shows up on the highlight reel so I get a little face time.”

With the Dunk rocking and PC rolling with a 61-46 lead, Bancroft made his signature play. McDermott had just rebounded a miss by Bryce Cotton and quickly turned to fire an outlet pass. Bancroft was lying in wait, however, and stole the pass and fed LaDontae Henton for a dunk and foul on McDermott.

“The game slowed down for me and I could see the point guard next to me and McDermott was looking right at him. I just thought, ‘There’s no way he sees me,’ so I just jumped the pass and went for it,” Bancroft said. “I was a little disappointed I didn’t go up and finish it but of course I gave it to Buckets (Henton) and he got the and-one.”

Cooley said he couldn’t be happier for Bancroft, a senior who now lives in Marion, Mass. He sees a bit of himself in the former walk-on, a local boy who grew up dreaming of playing for the Friars.

“He’s living his dream. I love it,” Cooley said. “I’m living it with him. I always wanted to play for Providence but didn’t do it. He’s playing for us and helping us win games. It’s a great story.”

On Twitter: @KevinMcNamara33

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